Water circulation system

ABSTRACT

A water circulation system for a human conveyance, such as a camping trailer or boat, includes a fresh water storage tank for supplying water to a wash basin or shower. The conveyance includes a water flush toilet and means is provided for directing drain water from the wash basin or shower to the inlet of the toilet.

United States Patent [72] inventor James S. Reid Hudson, Ohio [21] Appl. No. 800,496

[22] Filed Feb. 19, 1969 [45] Patented July 27, 1971 [73] Assignee The Standard Products Company Cleveland, Ohio [54] WATER CIRCULATION SYSTEM 9 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 4/2, 4/8, 4/1 14,4/1 15 [51] Int. Cl A47k 4/00, A4lb 9/00 [50] Field of Search 4/15, s 1 1, 114 1 15;296/23, 3,24, 28

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,514,230 7/1950 Feavel 4/115 X F v C 265 waif-1e 2,772,420 12/1956 Carton 4/114 X 2,817,846 12/1957 Stift 4/8 X 3,005,205 10/1961 Breen 4/1 3,042,933 7/1962 Garver 4/8 3,123,393 3/1964 Markwick 296/23 3,183,525 5/1965 O'Brien et al 4/115 X 3,474,467 10/1969 Stinson 4/8 X 3,458,871 8/1969 Valcervo 4/3 Primary Examinerl-lenry K. Artis Attorney-Meyer, Tilbery & Body ABSTRACT: A water circulation system for a human conveyance, such as a camping trailer or boat, includes a fresh water storage tank for supplying water to a wash basin or shower. The conveyance includes a water flush toilet and means is provided for directing drain water from the wash basin or shower to the inlet of the toilet.

I I, IIIIII 111, I 11 1 c iflwg wplrti A ESHOWER I 26 28 PATENTED JUL27 9n SHEET 1 0F 2 E SHOWER 3s 2? 3O I I D 38- 24 '0 6 22 TOILET 8 u 32 2 L20 E as cgLu-fi we 20 FIG. 2 T U H H HOLDING TANK! A52 Z FIG. 3

INVENTOR.

JAMES S. REID ATTORNEYS PAIENT-EUJMLN 19?: 8.594.825

1 sum 2 or z INVENTOR.

JAMES S. REID BY 7 Mm, 7M8 Body ATTORNEYS WATER CIRCULATION SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This application pertains to the art of water circulation and more particularly to a water circulation system for conserving potable water in a lavatory arrangement which includes a washbasin and flush toilet. The invention is particularly applicable to use with human conveyances, such as camping trailers and boats, and will be described with particular reference thereto although it will be appreciated that the invention may also be used in other systems where the supply of potable fresh water is limited.

Human conveyances, such as camping trailers and boats, are commonly used in situations where it is not possible to obtain a large supply of potable water. Therefore, such conveyances are commonly provided with a fresh water storage tank to supply water for drinking, washing, cooking and flushing a toilet. In such systems, it is also necessary to provide a waste storage tank for holding waste water after it has been used for drinking, washing, cooking or flushing a toilet. In most areas, it is not permissible to dispose of such wastes by dumping then on the ground or into a body of water. Therefore, it is necessary to have the waste storage tank drained ,or pumped in a service area having waste disposal facilities.

In conventional systems, it is common to supply potable water for flushing a toilet as well as for-drinking, washing and cooking. In such arrangements, an extremely large fresh water storage tank is required to supply a desirable amount of water for even a short period of time. In addition, an extremely large waste storage tank is required to store the waste water. For example, let it be assumed that one person living in a camping trailer should have available per day, 10 gallons of water for drinking, washing and cooking, and 10 gallons of water for flushing a toilet. Therefore, a camping trailer which may be occupied by four persons would require a fresh water storage capacity of 80 gallons per. day. If it is desirable to store sufficient water to last 1 week without refilling, a storage capacity of 560 gallons would be necessary. A tank for holding this much water would require a volume of around 74 cubic feet. Such a tank would measure 2 feet deep by l0 feet long by 3% feet wide. A waste storage tank of substantially the same capacity would also be required. In a camping trailer or boat, where space is at a premium, it is highly undesirable to occupy space with such large tanks as the space could be used for better purposes. Therefore, it would be desirable to substantially reduce the size of such tanks, such as by one-half, while stillmaking available a supply of water which will last as long as with the larger tanks. In addition, it would be desirable to accomplish this in a manner which is economical and very simple.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, an improved water circulation system is provided for use in human conveyances such as camping trailers and boats. More specifically, the present invention conserves potable water in camping trailers and boats by arranging for use of drain water from a washbasin or shower to fiush a toilet. In a preferred arrangement, a collecting tank is provided for storing drain water from a washbasin and shower. A connection is provided between an outlet in the connecting tank and the inlet of a toilet. When the flush valve on the toilet is operated, water from the collecting tank runs through the toilet and into a septic or waste storage tank. In a preferred arrangement. the tanks and connections are made at different levels so that the entire system may be gravity flow operated. In other arrangements, it is possible to provide pumps which are either manually or electrically operated to place water at different levels for use in the different devices. It is also possible to provide filter means for removing fairly large solids from drain water running into the collecting tank. However, it is not desirable to provide an expensive water purification system for returning drain water to a potable condition. In addition, it is possible to provide a defoaming agent in the drain line from a shower and washbasin to the collecting tank for reducing suds in the collecting tank. In accordance with the invention, it is also possible to provide a dual connection to a toilet inlet so that fresh water may be supplied for flushing the toilet when the collecting tank lacks sufficient water from little use of the washbasin or shower. i

In accordance with the present invention, it is possible to reduce the size of storage tanks by at least'one-half so that more useful purposes can be made of the additional space. For example, ifit is assumed that one person should have available in a camping trailer 10 gallons of water per day for drinking, washing and cooking, and 10 gallons of water per day for flushing a toilet, a total of gallons ofwater per day would be required in a camping trailer which holds four persons. A storage capacity of 560 gallons would be necessary for a 7 day period. In accordance with the present invention, the water which is used for washing is also used for flushing the toilet so that the storage capacity would only have to be 280 gallons. In addition, the waste storage tank can be reduced in size by onehalf because of the reduced need for the fresh water supply.

It is a principle object of the present invention to provide an improved water circulation system for human conveyances such as camping trailers and boats.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide such a water circulation system which greatly reduces the required fresh water storage capacity and thereby saves much needed space.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a water circulation system with an improved arrangement for utilizing drain water from a washbasin or shower to flush a toilet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement of parts, a preferred embodiment of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part thereof.

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a camping trailer having the improved water circulation system of the present invention incorporated therein;

FIG. 2 is a top plan cross-sectional view taken on line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3'is a side, elevational cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of a slightly modified water circulation system constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic illustration of a further modified water circulation system constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a side, elevational cross-sectional view ofa manual pump flush device for use with the arrangement of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic illustration of a still further modified water circulation system constructed in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a side, elevational cross-sectional view of a drain filter for use with the circulation system of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention only and not for purposes of limiting same, FIG. 1 shows a camping trailer A having wheels 12 and 14, and a tow bar 16 so that trailer A may be towed over roads by an automobile or truck to camping locations.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, trailer A includes a fresh water storage tank B having a suitable fill opening 18. Tank B may be built into the ceiling or an upper portion of a sidewall of trailer A. As is well known, trailers conventionally have inner and outer spac'zl-apart walls so that tank B can be in between the walls. Trailer A is also provided with a shower C, a washbasin D and a toilet E. As shown in FlG'.,2, each of these devices may be situated on different levels of trailer A. For example, toilet E may be situated on main floor 20 of trailer A, washbasin D on a first step 22 spaced a distance such as 1 foot above main floor 20, and shower floor 24 on a third level spaced a distance such as 1 foot above level 22. Conduits 26 and 28 extend from tank B to shower C and washbasin D respectively. Suitable valves are provided, in a conventional manner for regulating the flow of water through conduits 26 and 28 to shower C and washbasin D. Positioned beneath shower level 24 is a collecting tank G. Shower level, 24 includes a shower drain 30 communicating with the top of collectingtank G and washbasin D includes a drain conduit 32 which also communicates with the. top portion of collecting tank G. I

When shower C and washbasin D are used, water llows through drain outlet 30 and drain conduit 32 into'collecting tank G. A drain conduit 36 connects the bottom portion of collecting tank G with the inlet offlush toilet E through a flush valve 38. Positioned beneath main floor level 20is a septic or waste storage tank H and toilet E has a drain outlet 40 communicating with tank H through the top thereof. The outlet from collecting tank G to conduit 36 may be positioned at around the same level as the connection of conduit 36 to the inlet of toilet E. In this manner, collection of water in collecting tank G creates a pressure head so that water will readily flow from collecting tank G through toilet E and into waste tank H when flush valve 38 is actuated.

A diagrammatic illustration of a preferred water circulating arrangement as shown in FIG. 4 and which further includes a conduit 42 extending from fresh water storage tank B to conduit 36. Conduit 42 is connected to conduit 36 in a position between a ball check valve 44 and flush valve 38. Ball check valve 44 is arranged to permit flow of water from collecting tank G through conduit 36 but to prevent flow of water from conduit 42 into collecting tank G. Conduit 42 further includes a manual on-off valve 46. With this arrangement, it is possible to use drain water collected in collecting tank G for flushing toilet E when a sufficient amount of water has been collected in tank G and to also provide a supply of water for flushing toilet E by opening valve 46 in conduit 42 when there is no water in collecting tank G. In a preferred arrangement, collecting tank G also includes an overflow conduit 50 connected to its upper side portion and also connected to the upper portion of waste tank H. In this manner, excessive use of shower C and washbasin D will permit excessive water to overflow through overflow conduit 50 directly into waste tank H. It will be recognized that waste tank H may have substantially the same capacity as fresh water tank B. However, it is also possible to vary the amount of liquid storage capacity of tanks G and H so that both tanks G and H together would be required to hold all of the water in tank B. In a conventional manner, waste tank H may have a drain outlet 52 for emptying the entire system when trailer A is brought to a facility having waste disposal means available. FIG. shows an arrangement in which washbasin D, shower C and toilet E may be all situated on substantially the same level. In this arrangement, no steps or different levels may be provided and tanks G and H may be at substantially the same level beneath main floor of trailer A. In this arrangement, a conduit 56 connects the bottom of collecting tank G with the inlet of toilet E through a manual pump flush device 1 having a manual operating lever 58.

in one arrangement, pump flushing device J may take form as illustrated in FIG. 6. A cylinder 60 is provided with a ball check valve inlet 62 and a ball check valve outlet 64. Ball check valve 62 is arranged to permit liquid flow from conduit 56 into cylinder 60 and to prevent flow in a reverse direction. Ball check valve 64 is arranged to permit liquid flow from cylinder 60 to the inlet of toilet E and to prevent flow in a reverse direction. With ,this arrangement, a piston 66 is slideably received in cylinder 60 and is normally biased downwardly by a coil spring 68 which bears against the inside upper end 70 of cylinder 60 and against the upper face of piston 66. Cylinder 60 may include a bracket car 72 on which manual lever 58 is pivoted by a pin 74. Piston 66 may have a connecting rod 76 on its upper face to which lever 58 is connected by a pin 78 extending through an elongated slot 80 in lever 58. Pushing lever 58 clockwise about pivot pin 74 will move piston 66 upwardly in cylinder 60 against the bias of spring 68 and draw liquid from collecting tank G through conduit 56 past ball check valve 62. Release of lever 58 will then cause piston 66 to move downwardly in cylinder 60 under biasing force of spring 68 to force water past ball check valve 64 to the inlet of toilet E where the water flushes toilet E and then moves to waste tank H through toilet outlet 40. A vent line 8] may extend from the upper portion of cylinder 60 to the upper portion of tank G.

FIG. -7 shows another arrangement in which collector tank G has an outlet SUMP 84 in which a pump K is positioned. Pump K may be operated by suitable electric motor which is actuated by a switch 86 connected to a source of electric energy such as a battery by wires 88 and 90. A float 92 positioned within collector tank G includes a rod 94 having a bottom lateral extension 96 near the bottom of sump 84. Liquid flowing into collecting tank G from shower C and washbasin D will cause float 92 to move upwardly which in turn moves rod 94 and lateral extension 96 upwardly to actuate switch 86 and operate pump K to drain liquid from collecting tank G into a toilet water tank L through conduit 102. In this arrangement, tank L may also have an overflow conduit 104 communicating the upper portion of toilet tank L with waste tank H. Toilet water tank L includes an outlet 106 leading to the inlet of toilet E. In this arrangement, toilet water tank L may be positioned substantially above fresh water tank B so that the head of water in conduit 106 will always provide sufficient pressure to keep ball check valve 44 closed against flow of fresh water from tank B to toilet E. However, the absence of water in toilet water tank L will automatically allow opening of ball check valve 44 to flow of water from tank B to toilet E. Upon once again receiving water from collecting tank G, the head of water in conduit 106 and toilet water tank L will create a greater pressure on the downstream side of valve 44 to again close it against the flow of water from tank B.

In a further improvement, a filter means may be provided for filtering water drained from shower C and washbasin D into collector tank G. As shown in FIG. 7, a cylindricalreceptacle 112 may be provided to connect with shower drain 30 and washbasin drain 32. A drain line extends from receptacle 112 to tank G. A circular basket P having a fine screen mesh for its bottom and sidewalls may be received in receptacle 112 so that any liquid flowing through shower drain 30 or washbasin 32 must flow through the sidewalls and bottom wall of basket P so that solid particles are strained out of any liquid before it enters collector tank G. in addition, a defoaming agent may be positioned within basket P to prevent formation of excessive suds within collecting tank G. For example, a defoaming agent such as liquid silicone distributed as globules within a waxlike polyethylene glycol body which is erodable by water may be positioned within basket P as at 117. Water flowing through drain conduits 30 and 32 is then filtered as it passes through the screened sides and bottom of basket P and is also provided with liquid silicone defoaming agent as it flows over the bar of polyethylene glycol containing a liquid silicone defoaming agent. Receptacle 112 may be closed by a removable cover M.

While the invention has been described with reference to certain preferred arrangements, it is obvious that modifications and alterations will occur to others upon the reading and understanding of this specification.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim:

1. In a human conveyance including a fresh water storage tank positioned at a first elevation, washing means having a fresh water inlet connected with said storage tank by conduit means and positioned at a second elevation lower than said first elevation whereby water flows by gravity from said storage tank to said washing means, a collecting tank positioned at a third elevation lower than said second elevation, said washing means having a drain outlet communicating with said collecting tank whereby water flows by gravity through said drain outlet to said collecting tank, a toilet having a water inlet and a water outlet, said toilet water inlet communicating with said collecting tank and being positioned at a fourth elevation lower than said third elevation whereby water flows by gravity from said collecting tank through said toilet water inlet, a waste tank positioned at a sixth elevation lower than said fifth elevation and below said toilet water outlet, said toilet water outlet communicating with said waste tank whereby water flows by gravity through said toilet water outlet to said waste tank.

2. The device of claim 1 and further including conduit means connecting said fresh water storage tank directly with said toilet water inlet.

3. The device of claim 2 and further including overflow conduit means connecting said collecting ,tank directly with said waste tank.

4. The device of claim 3 and further including defoaming means positioned between said washing means drain outlet and said toilet water inlet. 7

5. The device of claim 4 and further including filter means positioned between said washing means drain outlet and said toilet water inlet.

6. An arrangement for circulating and conserving water in a human conveyance comprising; a fresh water storage tank'for storing fresh water, washing means to which fresh water is supplied from said fresh water storage tank for performing washing functions, said washing means having a water inlet communicating with said fresh water storage tank, flow means for supplying fresh water from said fresh water storage tank to said washing means through said washing means water inlet, a used water collecting tank for collecting used water from said washing means, said washing means having a drain outlet communicating with said collecting tank, flow means for supplying used wash water from said washing means to said used water collecting tank through said washing means drain outlet, a toilet having a water inlet and a water outlet, a waste tank for receiving waste from said toilet, flow means for supplying waste from said toilet to said waste tank through said toilet water outlet, said toilet water inlet communicating with said used water collecting tank and with said fresh water storage tank, and flow means for selectively supplying used water from said used water collecting tank or fresh water from said fresh water storage tank to said toilet through said toilet water inlet, whereby water is conserved by utilizing used wash water in said used water collecting tank for operating said toilet and fresh water from said fresh water storage tank is selectively used to clean said toilet and operate said toilet in the absence of used wash water in said used water collecting tank.

7. The device of claim 6 and further including overflow conduit means connecting said used water collecting tank with said waste tank whereby used wash water in said'used water collecting tank may flow directly from said collecting tank to said waste tank and bypass said toilet.

8. The device of claim 6 and further including defoaming means and filter means positioned between said toilet water inlet and said drain outlet from said washing means, whereby used wash water'utilized to operate said toilet is filtered and defoamed.

9. In an arrangement for circulating and conserving water on a human conveyance having toilet and washing facilities; a fresh water storage tank for storing fresh water, washing means to which fresh water is supplied from said fresh water storage tank for performing washing functions, said washing means having a water inlet communicating with said fresh water storage tank, flow means for supplying fresh water from said fresh water storage tank to said washing means through said washing means water inlet, a used water collecting tank for collecting used water from said washing means, said washing means having a drain outlet communicating with said collecting tank, flow means for supplying used wash water from said washing means to said used water collecting tank through said washing means drain outlet, a toilet having a water inlet and a water outlet, a waste tank for receiving waste from said toilet, flow means for supplying waste from said toilet to said waste tank through said toilet water outlet, said toilet water inlet communicating with said used water collecting tank, flow means for supplying used water from said used water collecting tank to said toilet through said toilet water inlet, and filter means and defoaming means positioned between said washing 'means drain outlet and said toilet water inlet for filtering and defoaming used water prior to use thereof for operating said toilet. 

1. In a human conveyance including a fresh water storage tank positioned at a first elevation, washing means having a fresh water inlet connected with said storage tank by conduit means and positioned at a second elevation lower than said first elevation whereby water flows by gravity from said storage tank to said washing means, a collecting tank positioned at a third elevation lower than said second elevation, said washing means having a drain outlet communicating with said collecting tank whereby water flows by gravity through said drain outlet to said collecting tank, a toilet having a water inlet and a water outlet, said toilet water inlet communicating with said collecting tank and being positioned at a fourth elevation lower than said third elevation whereby water flows by gravity from said collecting tank through said toilet water inlet, a waste tank positioned at a sixth elevation lower than said fifth elevation and below said toilet water outlet, said toilet water outlet communicating with said waste tank whereby water flows by gravity through said toilet water outlet to said waste tank.
 2. The device of claim 1 and further including conduit means connecting said fresh water storage tank directly with said toilet water inlet.
 3. The device of claim 2 and further including overflow conduit means connecting said collecting tank directly with said waste tank.
 4. The device of claim 3 and further including defoaming means positioned between said washing means drain outlet and said toilet water inlet.
 5. The device of claim 4 and further including filter means positioned between said washing means drain outlet and said toilet water inlet.
 6. An arrangement for circulating and conserving water in a human conveyance comprising; a fresh water storage tank for storing fresh water, washing means to which fresh water is supplied from said fresh water storage tank for performing washing functions, said washing means having a water inlet communicating with said fresh water storage tank, flow means for supplying fresh water from said fresh water storage tank to said washing means through said washing means water inlet, a used water collecting tank for collecting used water from said washing means, said washing means having a drain outlet communicating with said collecting tank, flow means for supplying used wash water from said washing means to said used water collecting tank through said washing means drain outlet, a toilet having a water inlet and a water outlet, a waste tank for receiving waste from said toilet, flow means for supplying waste from said toilet to said waste tank through said toilet water outlet, said toilet water inlet communicating with said used water collecting tank and with said fresh water storage tank, and flow means for selectively supplying used water from said used water collecting tank or fresh water from said fresh water storage tank to said toilet through said toilet water inlet, whereby water is conserved by utilizing used wash water in said used water collecting tank for operating said toilet and fresh water from said fresh water storage tank is selectively used to clean said toilet and operate said toilet in the absence of used wash water in said used water collecting tank.
 7. The device of claim 6 and further including overflow conduit means connecting said used water collecting tank with said waste tank whereby used wash water in said used water collecting tank may flow directly from said collecting tank to said waste tank and bypass said toilet.
 8. The device of claim 6 and further including defoaming means and filter means positioned between said toilet water inlet and said drain outlet from said washing means, whereby used wash water utilized to operate said toilet is filtered and defoamed.
 9. In an arrangement for circulating and conserving water on a human conveyance having toilet and washing facilities; a fresh water storage tank for storing fresh water, washing means to which fresh water is supplied from said fresh water storage tank for performing washing functions, said washing means having a water inlet communicating with said fresh water storage tank, flow means for supplying fresh water from said fresh water storage tank to said washing means through said washing means water inlet, a used water collecting tank for collecting used water from said washing means, said washing means having a drain outlet communicating with said collecting tank, flow means for supplying used wash water from said washing means to said used water collecting tank through said washing means drain outlet, a toilet having a water inlet and a water outlet, a waste tank for receiving waste from said toilet, flow means for supplying waste from said toilet to said waste tank through said toilet water outlet, said toilet water inlet communicating with said used water collecting tank, flow means for supplying used water from said used water collecting tank to said toilet through said toilet water inlet, and filter means and defoaming means positioned between said washing means drain outlet and said toilet water inlet for filtering and defoaming used water prior to use thereof for operating said toilet. 